Intravenously symptoms and conditions

I received prednisone intravenously at the hospital to prevent a severe reaction from receiving platelet transfusion. I have a bleeding disorder and IgA deficiency. Because of my bleeding disorder I have to receive platelet transfusion before any surgical procedures. When I receive the platelet transfusion 20 mins into receiving the platelets my face feels flush and a tightness and pain in my facial bones. I get a sudden headache with severe pressure pain in my head so severe that you feel as if your head is going to explode. My doctor recommended the use of prednisone to prevent me from having this reaction. 20 minutes after receiving the prednisone intravenously I felt my face turn flush with facial bone pain and a pressure around my face and top of my head. I felt the pressure in my head, but not the pain which I would get from the platelet transfusion. That night I had dizziness,severe headache,nausea,stomach pains,severe sweating,over heated,weakness and unable to concentrate. This went on for 2 days straight. Today is the 3rd day and I still can feel a slight pressure on the top of my head. I also felt eye pressure and I still have the headaches. I am schedule to see my doctor in 3 weeks and I will tell him that I will not take Prednisone ever again. I am sure there are other medications that can be given.

OH MY GOD!!!! I thought I might be imagining things. I was prescribed Levaquin and clyndamycin on December 15 2008 for a urinary tract infection that appeared to have gone systemic. After 2 days my right knee swelled up. I went back to the Dr the next day and he looked up both antibiotics in his little book and said the clyndamycin could cause joint swelling and pain. He told me to stop taking the clyndamycin and take 600 mg of ibuprofen for the joint paig. His little book said nothing about levaquin. Well I kept taking the levaquin and the pain spread literally to every joint in my body. I could not walk and had trouble even holding a coffee cup. The pain was unreal. I completed the 10 day course of the levequin as instructed. The joint pain was getting worse. I called the Dr. again and they did blood work to rule out arthritis and stuff like that. He put me on prednisone which has significantly helped with the pain. He said it may be a coincidence that I have developed arthritis and that it had nothing to do with the UTI. Well as I was watching TV last night I saw a lawyers commercial for a law suit against levaquin and cipro. Then today got on the internet and found this site. I am going to call the Dr. and tell him to update his little book he looked up the levaquin in. My fear is how long after you stop taking this poison does the joint pain end? I wish I would have known all of this sooner. I will never take this drug again.

On 7-15-08 I had a total abdominal hysterectomy and was given Levaquin thru IV while I was in the hospital.3 weeks to the day later I had a abscess next to my bowel that had to be removed and again was given Levaquin thru IV while I was in the hospital,both times I got very sick right after I was given Levaquin and when I was discharged on the 2nd.trip I was sent home with Levaquin 500mg pills.After taking 2 of the Levaquin pills I again was so sick and could not keep anything down so I called my DR.and explained to him what was going on and I was told I had to keep taking the Levaquin.After a few more days had passed I went into the office to see the DR.and again told him how sick I was and that I was unable to go to sleep,again I was told to continue the Levaquin and that my hormones were out of balance and that was why I was unable to go to sleep.On 9-2-08 I finally went back to work after being off for 7 weeks. I still was suffering from insomnia and was only getting 2-3 hours of sleep a night but was feeling better.On 9-30-08 I had a follow up with my primary care DR.my blood pressure was 211/160 and my pulse was 177 and also had a bad cough with wheezing and was sent straight to the ER.I was admitted and for the next 6 days was given Levaquin thru IV and the more I got the sicker I was to a point I thought I was dying.I ended up with a rash all over my face and finally on day 7 a Lung DR.came into the room and took one look at me and said "oh my god,we have to take you off of that antibiotic")
I was sent home on day 8 and after being home for 3 days all of the Tendons in both legs,ankles,arms,hands and right shoulder were inflamed to a point where the DR.was afraid that they were going to rapture so I was on complete bed rest for 3 weeks.I am now suffering from both ankles swelled and ache all the time along with all of the minerals in my body have completely bottomed out along with the calcium and potassium and also now I have several inflammatory markers in my blood and have to go see a Rheumatology & Arthritis DR.My lungs have also been damaged from Levaquin and I am now using 3 different inhalers and I have never had a breathing problem previous to this.Now for those who have commented that we should have researched the drug before taking the meds in my case I was unable to do so being as though I was given it in the hospital ! I still have no idea how much damage I will be left with and what will be permanent.I will post again when I find out more on the damage that this drug has done to my 44 year old body.

Sadly, I am just another case among many it seems. I am a 26 year old female who was prescribed ciprofloxacin for a UTI at my urgent care center. I have health problems to begin with and did not want any more. You know, I’ve had to take all kinds of meds over the years, including harsh ones, but it was never so bad as to prompt me to write comments on the internet about it. What does that say about Cipro? When I got home from the doctor I read the paper before swallowing the pill, which included the description of side effects. Unfortunately, it did not include the truth about what could happen to you while even taking this drug for a short time. If there had been some kind of warning about the strength and potential risk of taking this drug, I most likely would have steered clear from it since I am sensitive to medications and already suffering. The paper led me to believe false information, listing some common antibiotic side effects, and I ended up starting treatment. Some of the negative effects I experienced while on this medication for only 2 days were: severe muscle/overall body weakness, difficulty breathing, fatigue, mental confusion, difficulty concentrating, anxiety/nervousness, restlessness, mild carpal tunnel pain, slight vision change, stiffness, pain, an overall feeling of terrible heaviness, including of the chest, and possible heart palpitations. It felt like the medication was damaging my body; like it was eating away at my muscles or something. I've never had chemotherapy before, but some how that's how I would imagine it. It felt like it was doing damage to every cell in my body. The worst part is the weakness and altered thinking right now. I hope these symptoms go away completely. I felt better after quitting the drug, but not completely. I am just thankful for my hope in Jesus Christ. Even if things don't improve, I am comforted that He cares for me. I am going to be praying for this terrible situation where doctors are just handing this out for common problems without giving proper warning. May fewer and fewer people have to suffer because of Cipro and this class of drugs. I am also going to report this to the FDA and hopefully to my doctor’s office. I would like to see clear and extensive warnings on this drug, if not for it to be taken off the market. My personal advice to any one who is currently on this medicine and experiencing side effects would be to: drink milk or eat other dairy products to lessen the symptoms. It seemed to temporarily help me.

The first time I heard the word prednisone was late Dec 07 when I was hospitalized for severe pneumonia. I started off with a bad sinus infection that quickly advanced into pneumonia in a matter of a couple weeks. I tried 3 courses of antibiotics but I continued to get worse and got to the point where I was unable to breath on my own. Within a day of being at the hospital I felt like I was living in a dream world and from there I continued to get more stoned by the minute. I had no idea I was being pumped full of prednisone intravenously, along with my antibiotics. I was given a dose of 250 mgs daily, and obviously it was way too much for me. As I progressed into my dream world, I had a couple of “episodes” where I acted completely out of character, and got really paranoid and highly emotional. I pulled my IV out of my arm the one night and sat and watched the blood dripping from my hand, not really understanding where I was or what was going on. Later on I got really paranoid that the nursing staff was conspiring against me and talking about me behind my back (lol) , which I normally would not care about, but for some reason it made me really upset and I sobbed uncontrollably at times. I also tried to leave my room in intensive care a few times, as I was convinced that I was not supposed to be there and wanted to go home. My doctors were really freaked out so they gradually lowed my dose over the last few days I was in the hospital, even sent me for a CT scan of my brain in case I was going crazy. Prednisone is an extremely strong and evil drug – that is why I had the adverse reaction!! Not because I’m crazy! And one should never be given a drug like prednisone without their knowledge!! A few weeks after leaving the hospital I started going down hill again and the doctors realized that what I had was an immune disorder and not just pneumonia per se. After a few months of on again off again prednisone (never longer than a week at a time), I was put on a daily regiment (50 mgs) of it starting in May. Since then I have experienced all of the same side effects noted by everyone on here, weight gain, sleeplessness, anxiety, hair growth (the worst is on my face and fingers!!) dizziness, confusion, trembling hands, tooth aches, and the worst of all , big time MOON FACE! I feel like a complete freak most days. I am now tapering and am down to 10 mgs. So far I have seen no improvement in the side effects, accept now I have withdrawal side effects on top of everything - nausea, headaches, flu like symptoms and trouble breathing. I HATE this drug, even though I know it ultimately saved my life in the hospital and my kidneys – as I had complications caused by the autoimmune disorder. I see my doctor next week and I want off this drug completely. I am not sure the benefits out weigh the side effects to be honest. I want to feel normal again and be able to recognize my own face in the mirror  People should use extreme caution when using this drug and it should only be used to save people’s lives, not used for minor things like poison ivy. That is unconscionable!!!! Good luck to all who are on this drug.

My mother was put on Prednisone 3 weeks ago because of severe muscle pain (15 mg at first and increased to 60 mg). After she starting taking it she began to have weakness in her muscles/joints and was unable to walk by the end of the week. She also had severe water retention and could not catch her breath. Most of all she was very weak all the time and could not seem to sleep at all. She wound up in the hospital and was classified with a type of Congestive Heart Failure due to the excessive dosage given by a pain doctor. She had to be admitted to a Rehabilitation Center where they have now cut her down to 10 mg a day and she is trying to take Physical Therapy to walk again. She is fighting with depression and overwhelming feelings of anxiety. She still cannot sleep and wonders if she will ever by back to normal again. Just a month ago she was living a normal life and because of the pain, was given this medication. I wonder if the benefits outweigh the horrible side effects she has experienced. After reading some of the responses above I see others are having similar side effects.
Any encouragement from someone with a positive long term outcome would be beneficial at this time to her. She feels very helpless in her situation.

I started taking Prednisone in late November for inflammation of my lungs, a complication of influenza A. I started at 50 mg daily, then went to 75, then was hospitalized and went to 160 intravenously. After about a week, I was reduced to 120 then 75 by mouth a few days later. After 15 days in the hospital, I was released only to come back two days later with internal bleeding. I was released two days later and my doctor knocked several days off my withdrawal plan. About midway through all this, I started having a constant mild headache. After my second release, the headache started to get worse. The headache became debilitating and I spent some time in the ER where codeine helped. (I'm allergic to morphine which would have been their choice). The codeine helped for a day or two, but when I got to 60mg of codeine with no effect I gave up on the pills. My doctor gave me some sort of anti-inflammatory shot which helped.

I've been off Prednisone now for over a week and still have a constant headache, but most of the time it's not bad and only moderate at times. On average I see a gradual improvement.

I have had increased appetite and energy (in the beginning) followed by face and neck swelling, headache, nausea, blurred vision, internal bleeding and large muscle weakness.

I know that I needed something to stop my lung inflammation, but the cure has been worse than the disease at this point.

I'm having serious side effects currently. The onset of the side effects began after taking Lamictal for over 2 months. I started slowly on 25 mg and gradually increased to 200. I felt a great improvement in Bipolar disorder-mood swings- at 100mg but was told that is not the theraputic dose, so we increased to 200mg.

I had no side effects until the rash began to appear. At first only on legs, then arms, then neck, then face...and surprisingly in private areas. Unbearable itching. Rash continued to rage even after a pack of steroids. Swelling became apparrent in face and entire body. Slight difficulty breathing. Went to the ER and received another dose of steroids intravenously. The rash continues to improve but is still extremely itch. The swelling improved for a couple of days but is back. Had one day of severe headache. It has been 14 days and today I am experiencing blurred vision in the left eye, and new swelling in the tongue.
I sit at home with an Epi Pen next to me waiting to hear back from the doctor.

All of this is so unfortunate because I felt more stable than I have in years while on the medication. I'm feeling very concerned about my continuing side effects. Don't know what to expect.

Mu husband was hospitalized with a severe urinary tract infection - Dec.18, 2006 and was treated with levaquin intravenously. Upon release, Dec.22nd, he was given levaquin - 500mg - to take orally for seven days. While taking the medication he had no side effects, but the day after he took the last dose he started getting pains in the jaw and shoulder, which then spread to the chest. He has a history of heart problems ( 4 angioplasties) so I gave him nitro, although he insisted this was not a "heart" pain. The nitro didn't work and the pain worsened - he was sweating and obviously distressed. I called 911 and he was admitted to the hospital where they ran all the heart tests - EKG's, echogram, chest x-ray, cat scan, etc. The pain became excruciating and they finally administered morphine which was the only thing that helped. The doctors admitted they just didn't know what ws causing the intense pain, as all his heart tests were good. I decided to check the side effects of levaquin and lo and behold, right on the printout from the drug store they list "crushing chest pain" as one of the possible side effects. I pointed this out to the doctors, but they were very sceptical. However by the time he left tht hospital, five days later, they admitted that it could possibly be the levaquin. The chest pain never entirely went away, although it was much milder. He was fine for a few days, then the pain returned again - it was severe and this time he experienced rapid heartbeat (143) which he had never had before. I took him to the emergency room and he was admitted once again and of course, they did all the heart tests again. He explained that he had been through this before and it wasn't his heart, but they have to be sure, especially at his age - 81. I once again brought up the possibility of levaquin side effects but they were sure that as he had finished taking it 10 days ago, it couldn't be that. Once again they gave him morphine and he was abl to relax and his heart rate returned to normal. When he was discharged two days later, they put on his record and notified the drug store that he was allergic to levaquin. He was given a prescription for hydrocodone to take if the pain returns. The chest pain never really goes away - he says it hurts deep inside, somewhat like pleurisy, but all lung tests are negative. He is constantly fatigued and I realize that at 81 you don't have the energy of a 20-year-old, but prior to this he was very healthy - excercise class three times a week, walks regularly and plays golf. I wish I knew how long these side effects will last, especially as in view of the rapid heart beat, they now have him on Coumadin. Before this, he took only three prescription meds now he takes nine! I know they have to use powerful antibiotics to kill bacterial infections, but they should know of an "antidote" for these serious side effects. It's all very well tosay "it hardly ever happens" but reading the dozens of reports on this and other websites, I would say that it happens all too often. If anyone has found a remedy or anything that helps - please let us know.

I had all the side effects of Stephanie39 and more.

I was admitted into ER on the 16th of August because i was struggling to breathe. I was treated for asthma, which i have never really had a problem with, and bronchitis. I was immediately put on various steriod treatments (intravenously and orally) and Levaquin 500mg PO q.d. I was then admitted to hospital. I left hospital 10 days later. After being there for 3 days my breathing was much better BUT i was feeling sicker and started with thrush in my mouth and swollen glands. I told the attending medical staff, including doctors about these symptoms. I was given an IV treatment of another antibiotic. (Rocephin) Day 3 i informed the doctor that i was starting to experience feelings of depression. He smiled and walked out. I can't tell how many various medications i was given during my stay but i do know that i had several different types of steriods, orally and intravenously and a few antibiotics but Levaquin was every day. When I left the hospital I was battling with depression, my body felt like it was poisened. I couldn't walk without my heart rate going wild. My muscles felt lame, my whole body felt edgy and like i had an electrical current running through me. My nerves in my legs and arms felt very agitated. I had a strange sensation of a mask on my face. I felt as if cotton wool was in my ears. I was incredibly dizzy and my balance was totally off - i felt like i would fall over all the time. It would take me an hour to get to the bathroom and back. (30 steps) The worst was that i didn't have the physical or mental stamina to do anything.I was very weak. The thrush/candida had now progressed into my colon and vagina.

The second day i was home i woke up and was in the most incredible pain. I was convinced that i would find bruising all over the top half of my body...i felt like someone had taken a bat and hit me all over with it. I could hardly move for the pain and no-one could touch me.
My husband took me back to hospital and after 4 hours they "could find nothing wrong" and sent me home saying i should take tylenol! I couldn't walk and was having dilerious type visions when i closed my eyes. When I got home i felt completely defeated and desperate. My husband found the site for Levaquin side effects and we both felt much better...there was hope.
I found a deep tissue massage therapist and got a treatment. I had hot ginger baths and used heating pads for sore muscles. I contacted a homeopath/accupuncturist and he told me to start taking Vit A,C,E and Selenium, (Anti-oxidants) Primadophilus Reuteri (which is good bacteria to counter-act the thrush) liquid concentrate Grapefruit Seed Extract (to kill the bad bacteria also for the thrush) and Milk Thistle to help my liver. I have also had 4 accupuncture treatments. (I had never had this before but was desperate- it definately worked for me. I could see an improvement about 4 hours later.) He also told me to drink at least a gallon of water a day and to only eat veggies for the first 4 days. (That was hell and i cheated.)
It's been just over two weeks of this treatment and i am finally able to do most things. I still haven't tried driving and won't be doing anything too active for a while. I did start with some very easy stretching Yoga exercises.
I have to continue the above treatment for 3 months at least before my homeopath thinks that my body will have rid itself of all the toxins!
I am very angry about this. I would hate for a child to have to go through what I did. Anyone can mail me for support.

My only fear is long term damage...especially to my Liver.

n.

I just got out of the hospital a few days ago. I received Levaquin intravenously. I am now taking a weeks worth of pills. Reading these entries is very disturbing.

I have expereinced aches in joints, but I relate that to being stuck in bed for four days doing nothing.
Other than that, I tire very easily and have been experiencing some headaches. I'll take that over tha pain I was in before.
I've found it's better to take in the evening because suroundings do become a little hazing sometimes, and I find it hard to concentrate at work, so I look for sites on the meds I am taking instead...

I was prescribed Levaquin at 500Mg, 10 days duration, for an acute inner ear infection. I am a 44 year old male with a history of heart problems including arythmia. I am experiencing dizzyness, headache, lethargy, and muscle soreness as well as sore ankles. On a very positive note, my ear infection has improved dramatically a few hours after taking the first dose. I have had a recurring problem with ear and sinus infections. Two years ago I took Levaquin intravenously for the same problem after three other antibiotics failed to work. One thing I find to be very disturbing is the reactions of some people who have posted here. Levaquin was developed to combat the newer virulent forms of antibiotic resistant super bugs (bacteria). These "bugs" gain their resistance to antibiotics because people do not finish taking their medication. The bactetria become exposed to the new antibiotics but are not completely erradicated and some modify and become resistant. The people who stop taking their medication without first going to see their doctors are the cause of all the new resistant superbugs. Smarten up people. I have to use Levaquin now because of people like you.

My father is 85 and ended up in the hospital with a bacterial infection that started in the blood and went to the bladder. They put him on Levaquin. He received it intravenously for a couple of days. Then took it in pill form for three days. He was weak and didn't have much appetite in the hospital. When he went home he took one pill a day, in the morning. In addition to still having no energy he was nauseous all the time and felt lousy. Once I saw this website I was immediately alarmed and printed off all of the side effects. The main thing that made me insist that he call the doctor and be taken off the medication is this: He has been on medication for seizures since last August. They are very slight brain activities that come and go very rapidly. He hasn't had any episodes since being on various seizure medications. He experienced 4 mini-seizures within 2 days. This happened the last two days he was on the levaquin. On the long list of side-effects seizures is one of them. The doctor switched him to sulfamethoxazole to continue with an antibiotic. I didn't get to personally speak to his doctor, the night we called we got a partner and she immediately agreed that he should stop the levaquin. The levaquin had 2 refills on it; I wonder how long he would of had to take it if we didn't interfere. Before we called the doctors office we called an 800 number that his Blue Shield provider supplies for questions. We got a registered nurse and I specifically ask her if she heard much about this medication, I was surprised that she said no? I didn't get the impression that when my father went to see his doctor that the doctor said much about the levaquin. I tried to get my father to give him the entire printout of these articles but he didn't. What really gets me about this happening to him is the fact that we've been fighting with his specialist about his seizure medication because he has had such bad side effects taking them. He's on his fourth. Finally when he went in the hospital his family doctor met with the specialist and got him on a seizure medication that isn't as new and doesn't seem to have as many warnings BUT THEN the same family doctor that knows we've been concerned about harsh side effects, turns around and puts him on something like this, I almost flipped out when I saw the side effects and the stories on this site. I agree with some of the previous statements about the pharmaceutical companies being out of control, pushing new and expensive medications on doctors and then onto unsuspecting patients. I'm hearing more and more that people are having side effects that are giving them serious problems. My advise to everyone is to talk in depth about any medication you are being prescribed and check the side effects before filling the prescription. Take as little medication as possible, try to find quality vitamins and herbs to help with medical situations, only take prescription drugs if necessary. Watch out for any older people that you are involved with and help them to check things out. My father has been on Shaklee vitamins for over 20 years and I believe it has helped him get through many medical situations better then he normally would have. I think this whole thing would have been worse if he hadn't had the reinforcement of nutritional supplements and a good pro-biotic.